WASPISH Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

waspish

adjective

ˈwä-spish

Definition of waspish

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed extremely waspish, she uses her wit viciously when irritated

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of waspish After some increasingly waspish bickering between Aleida and Irina, the group manages to agree once more on the importance of the Space Elevator and Titan mission succeeding unaffected by the ongoing protests. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 Spitting Image has delivered a typically waspish response after Deadline revealed this week that the show had been served with a lawsuit by the owners of Paddington Bear. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025 But what a response — a performance full of waspish pressing, muscular defending and precise, efficient counters. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 In contrast to her expansive mate, Toklas was a waspish temple gatekeeper who never ceased to hold grudges. — Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025 The waspish Queen – played by Rebecca Trehearn, whose deliciously withering grandeur would give Marie Antoinette pause — is not, to put it mildly, pleased. — David Benedict, Variety, 19 Aug. 2021 The author takes a waspish tone that doesn’t always enhance his arguments, but the book is an excellent distillation of a complicated menace. — Barton Swaim, WSJ, 26 Feb. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waspish

Adjective

Whether a balanced market can be achieved with competing cartels will be an interesting experiment in a sometimes-irritable trade relationship.

— Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Just as Depp made to exit the stage, a haunting voice came over the speaker, eerily repeating the irritable man’s name.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 23 July 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

One person was killed in a fiery three-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on Wednesday in far northwest suburban Genoa Township.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Embattled Central Florida Congressman Cory Mills faced off in a fiery primary debate with three fellow Republicans Wednesday evening, in which the political issues were largely overshadowed by his many controversies.

— Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026